New cancer study strategy in Japan to focus on patients' age groups

A new 10-year government strategy on cancer studies in Japan†will focus on the development of cancer treatment methods that better address the needs of different age groups, such as elderly people and young children.

An expert panel set up by the health ministry revealed a draft strategy this week which shows the direction the nation's cancer studies should take.

The new strategy also includes a plan to strengthen studies to make findings from basic studies better utilized to develop new drugs for practical use.

The draft strategy is expected to be formalized soon by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry; the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry; and the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, officials said.

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The first 10-year strategy on cancer studies was compiled in 1984, and the new one, to be implemented next fiscal year, will be the fourth of its kind.

In compiling the new draft strategy, the panel, which is chaired by Tomomitsu Hotta, president of the National Cancer Center, placed priority on such issues as increases in the number of elderly cancer patients and the "drug lag," in which approval of new drugs in Japan lags behind the United States and Europe.

In some cases, elderly patients whose physical strength has declined suffer serious problems from surgeries or treatment with anticancer drugs. Under the new strategy, treatment methods that impose less burden on patients' bodies and pain management will be a point of focus, rather than those aimed only at complete recovery or life prolongation. Currently, clinical studies to confirm the effectiveness and safety of anticancer drugs mostly target patients aged 70 or younger. The new strategy suggests adequate tests of using these drugs on the elderly be verified, as such studies have been insufficient.

Regarding childhood cancer, which is the top cause of death from illness among children, the new strategy proposes that studies be conducted for providing treatment or care that better takes into account cancer aftereffects and children's growth.

As for development of new drugs, the draft urges government, industry and academic circles to cooperate so research can be promptly utilized for practical use, given the situation in which, even if Japanese researchers succeed in discovering anticancer agents, they are commercialized first overseas in many cases.

The new strategy also includes plans to conduct studies on treatment methods with the use of genetic tests to take into account differences in patients' inherent physical traits. Studies aimed at revealing the mechanism of cancer development with the use of induced pluripotent stem cells are also included in the new strategy. Studies on new preventative measures and checkup methods are among other items outlined in the new strategy.

Studies in line with the government's strategy have so far been conducted with budgets allocated to each ministry concerned.